Kenton Primary School, located in Devon, has relocated to the historic Powderham Castle after its building was severely damaged by flooding in September 2023. The school’s executive head, Lorraine Curry, explained that the move came after she approached the Earl of Devon, Charles Courtenay, who graciously offered the school space within the castle for its first term.
The children began their school year in the castle on Wednesday and have been enjoying the unique experience. Ms. Curry shared, “The children love it. It feels quite surreal coming to school down the drive, past the deer park, and into the castle.” She further described the experience as “amazing.”
Unfortunately, due to the ongoing risk of flooding, the students will not be able to return to their original building, which is over 200 years old. However, the school has secured government funding to construct a new building in the village. After their term at Powderham Castle, students will temporarily move to facilities on Kenton’s playing fields until the new school is completed.
This unexpected shift has transformed what could have been a challenging disruption into a memorable learning adventure for the pupils of Kenton Primary School.